
by talvyrn
Elias Mercer died. Instead, he wakes face-down in a mud puddle beneath an alien sky split by a luminous ring, stranded in a world of monsters, magic, and a System that should not exist. Armed with little more than a stone spear and the training of a former marine, Eli must carve out a place in a land where survival is earned in blood. His path soon collides with Astra Emberholdt, a young knight sworn to defend the frontier. As the pair are drawn together by a rare connection neither fully understands, they find their fates becoming increasingly intertwined. Yet the deeper Eli and Astra delve into the mysteries of their world, the more they begin to suspect something is terribly wrong. The gods are gone. The world is broken. The System guiding their growth may not exist for the reasons everyone believes. And whatever shattered the world may not be finished yet. --------------------------------------- What to Expect - Steady, earned progression—no shortcuts, no instant godhood - Dual protagonists with a growing bond (and a slow-burn romance) - Tactical combat, monster hunts, and survival on a dangerous frontier - A loyal (and slightly chaotic) wyvern companion - Hard choices, lasting consequences, and battles that actually matter - A fractured world, missing gods, and something stirring beneath it all --------------------------------------- Release Schedule ⚔️ New chapters every weekday at 9 AM PST 📖 Over 170,000 words posted and ongoing 📚 Book 1 is projected to exceed 300,000 words 🔥 30+ chapters ahead on Patreon if you want to read ahead --------------------------------------- If you enjoy the story, consider following, rating, or leaving a comment—it helps more than you know. Contains violence and darker themes. Intended for mature audiences.
| # | Title | Words |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Prologue- Blood Rain | 0 |
| 2 | Chapter 1 - The Day it All Ended | 0 |
| 3 | Chapter 2- The Puddle | 0 |
| 4 | Chapter 3- Monsters from the Dark | 0 |
| 5 | Chapter 4- The First Night in a New World | 0 |
| 6 |
| Chapter 5- Can you get Tinnitus from a noise inside your head? |
| 0 |
| 7 | Chapter 6- The Shape of Power | 0 |
| 8 | Chapter 7 - Armed at Last | 0 |
| 9 | Chapter 8- The First Hunt | 0 |
| 10 | Chapter 9- Battle Trophies, and A Well Earned Rest | 0 |
| 11 | Chapter 10- A Wondrous World and a Scaly Friend | 0 |
| 12 | Chapter 11- A Trail of Corpses | 0 |
| 13 | Chapter 12- Steel in the Shadows, Hear my Roar | 0 |
| 14 | Chapter 13- To the Victors Go the Spoils | 0 |
| 15 | Chapter 14- A Stranger’s Tale | 0 |
| 16 | Chapter 15- No One Left Behind | 0 |
| 17 | Chapter 16 - Heeding the Call | 0 |
| 18 | Chapter 17 - Returning the Scene of the Crime | 0 |
| 19 | Chapter 18 - A Moment Before Battle | 0 |
| 20 | Chapter 19 - Tracking Down Some Bastards | 0 |
| 21 | Chapter 20 - Blades from the Dark | 0 |
| 22 | Chapter 21 - A Duet of Steel | 0 |
| 23 | Chapter 22 - The Slaver’s Camp | 0 |
| 24 | Chapter 23 - The Frostwarden | 0 |
| 25 | Chapter 24 - Echoes of the Dream | 0 |
| 26 | Chapter 25 - Not Alone | 0 |
| 27 | Chapter 26 - Cleaning Up the Trash | 0 |
| 28 | Chapter 27 - On the Road Again | 0 |
| 29 | Chapter 28 - River Camp, Making Friends | 0 |
| 30 | Chapter 29 - A Teeny Dragon | 0 |
| 31 | Chapter 30 - An Uncomfortable Truth | 0 |
| 32 | Chapter 31 - An Oath of Silence | 0 |
| 33 | Chapter 32 - Be Careful What You Wish For | 0 |
| 34 | Chapter 33 - Tea with an Eldritch Being from Beyond the Stars | 0 |
| 35 | Chapter 34 - A Little Friend Joins The Party | 0 |
| 36 | Chapter 35 - The First Lesson | 0 |
| 37 | Chapter 36 - A Bond Born from an Experience Shared | 0 |
| 38 | Chapter 37 - A Burden Shared | 0 |
| 39 | Chapter 38 - A Dragon Named Tiamat | 0 |
| 40 | Chapter 39 - The Horde Approaches | 0 |
| 41 | Chapter 40 - A Violent Demonstration | 0 |
| 42 | Chapter 41 - A Lesson on Power | 0 |
| 43 | Chapter 42 - Some Timely Advice | 0 |
| 44 | Chapter 43 - Thoughts of the Future | 0 |
| 45 | Chapter 44 - A Divine Pact | 0 |
| 46 | Chapter 45 - An Interesting Lesson | 0 |
| 47 | Chapter 46 - Trying Not to Die | 0 |
| 48 | Chapter 47 - A Swift Swing in Fortunes | 0 |
| 49 | Chapter 48 - Worked to the Bone | 0 |
| 50 | Chapter 49 - The Dangers of Rapid Growth | 0 |
| 51 | Chapter 50 - A Duet of Dulled Blades | 0 |
| 52 | Chapter 51 - One Hell of a Show | 0 |
| 53 | Chapter 52 - A Worthy Quarry | 0 |
| 54 | Chapter 53 - On the Approach to Springdale | 0 |
| 55 | Chapter 54 - A Community in the Trees | 0 |
| 56 | Chapter 55 - A Matter of Justice | 0 |
| 57 | Chapter 56 - A Clue to a Deeper Plot | 0 |
| 58 | Chapter 57 - On the Road to Emerald Grove | 0 |
| 59 | Chapter 58 - First Skill Merger | 0 |
| 60 | Chapter 59 - A Friend in Need | 0 |
| 61 | Chapter 60 - Trusting a Friend | 0 |
| 62 | Chapter 61 - Hard Work Begins to Pay Off | 0 |
| 63 | Chapter 62- Tiers of Power | 0 |
| 64 | Chapter 63- Culling a Man Eater | 0 |
| 65 | Chapter 64- A Beginner’s Magic Lesson | 0 |
| 66 | Chapter 65- Emerald Grove, the Frontier Town | 0 |
| 67 | Chapter 66- A First Glimpse of the Shattered Sky | 0 |
| 68 | Chapter 67- A Heartfelt Reunion | 0 |
| 69 | Chapter 68- A Day out on the Town | 0 |
| 70 | Chapter 69- Quality Armor is a Rare Find | 0 |
| 71 | Chapter 70- Registering with the League | 0 |
| 72 | Chapter 71- A Dire Warning | 0 |
| 73 | Chapter 72- A Storm of Shadows | 0 |
| 74 | Chapter 73- A Dance of Blood and Flame | 0 |
| 75 | Chapter 74- A Timely Arrival | 0 |
| 76 | Chapter 75- Combing Through the Wreckage | 0 |
| 77 | Chapter 76- Counterpoint | 0 |
| 78 | Chapter 77- The Legend of the Twinborn | 0 |
| 79 | Chapter 78- A New Necklace | 0 |
| 80 | Chapter 79- A New Bond | 0 |
| 81 | Chapter 80 - A First Evolution | 0 |
| 82 | Chapter 81- A Familiar Face | 0 |
| 83 | Chapter 82- The Price of Power | 0 |
| 84 | Chapter 83- A Second Meeting | 0 |
| 85 | Chapter 84- Returning the Favor | 0 |
| 86 | Chapter 85- A Prophecy of Destruction | 0 |